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of the Government of New Zealand ; and they hereby resolve to send this and the above resolutions to the Hon. Robert Stout, Premier of New Zealand, as their memorial, to be laid before his Government, and transmitted to the Colonial Ministry of Britain. Signed on behalf of the Presbytery by John Steven, Moderator.

No. 51. Memorandum from the Premier to Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G. The Premier has the honour to forward the enclosed copy of resolutions passed by the Presbytery of Oamaru on the subject of the proposed annexation of the New Hebrides by France, and to recommend that they may be forwarded to the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies. 12th May, 1886. Robert Stout.

No. 50.

No. 52. The Moderator of the Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand to the Premier. Sir,— Sydenham, 12th May, 1886. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your reply to the resolutions of the Presbytery of Auckland and Christchurch re the New Hebrides. I desire, in the name of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, to thank you for your courtesy in this matter, and for your hearty recognition of the good services rendered by our Church to the natives of the New Hebrides. I have sent down a copy of your communication to each of our Presbyteries, and have requested them to give me an expression of their opinion on the points raised in it: these replies, representing the mind of our Church, I shall embody in a report which I shall forward to you at the earliest possible moment. I have, &c, T. R. Cairns, The Hon. Robert Stout, Premier, Wellington. Moderator of Assembly.

No. 53. The Premier to the Moderator of the Oamaru Presbytery. Reverend Sir, — 14th May, 1886. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th instant, enclosing resolutions passed by the Presbytery of Oamaru relative to the proposed annexation of the New Hebrides by Prance, a copy of which I have forwarded to His Excellency the Governor, for transmission to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. I now enclose copy of a letter I have addressed to the Moderator of the Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. Will you be good enough to bring it under the notice of your Presbytery as early as possible? I have, &c, Eev. John Steven, Moderator, Oamaru Presbytery. Eobert Stout.

No, 50.

No. s].

No. 40.

No. 54. The Clerk, Dunedin Presbytery, to the Premier. Sir,— Blueskin, Otago, 14th May, 1886. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the Bth instant on the subject of the New Hebrides, together with copy of a letter addressed by you to the Moderator of the General Assembly. A meeting of the Dunedin Presbytery has been called for Thursday first, the 20th instant, for consideration of your letter. I have, &c, Alex. M. Finlayson, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. Clerk of Presbytery.

No. a.

No. 40.

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